Hoodwink.



Patented Aug. I5, 1899."

I. H. PEPPARD.

HODDWINK.

(Applicaticn filed June 13, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.)

Pa'te'nted Aug. l5, I899.

l. H. PEPPARD.

H OOD WIN K.

-App1icati0n filed. June 13, 189B.

2 sheets sheet 2,

(No Model.)

Wit/macaw m: Nuflms PETERS co, PHOTQLITHO. wAsmNcYoN.

I zen of the United States, residing at Bluitton,

'tances from the point of observation than they UNITED STATES ISAAC .ll. PEPPARD, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BLUFFTON, lN'DlANA.

HOODWlNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,227, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed June 13,1898.

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC H. PEPPARD,a citiin the county of Wells and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hoodwinks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to hoodwinks; and it consists, essentially, of a supporting-band having fasteningstraps and openings, in which are fitted the rear ends of barrels provided with hinged caps carrying conical lenstubes having lenses therein of dilferent character at the inner and outer portions, and the said caps also having supplementary hinged covers at their outer ends.

The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement of the several parts,which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The intention of the invention is to practice a delusion on the person to whom the hood wink is applied by having the lenses so constructed and arranged as to make inclosures and objects therein appear at greater disreally are, and consequently reduce the dimensions proportionate to the visual deception, and also provide means for removing the deception and permitting the normal vision to be exercised or entirely darken the device and completely shut off the view of surrounding objects.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoodwink embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the barrels and a part of the device. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Fig. at is a horizontal section of the entire device.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates a supporting-band,preferably constructed of leather or analogous material having strong wearing qualifications and a tearing resistance.- This band has a central notch 52 at its lower portion and the edges are curved to fit the facial outline or lineaments of the A suitable soft or cushion lining 3 wearer.

Serial No. 688,335. (No model.)

is applied to the inner surface of the band for obvious reasons, and to the ends of said band a buckle 4t and engaging strap 5 are attached for the purpose of securing the hoodwink in place. On opposite sides of the central slot 2 and at a suitable elevation in the band opposite openings 6 are formed and thereovcr are applied the rear ends of frusto-conical barrels 7, constructed of metal and held firmly in position. Between the barrels 7, adjacent the band 1, the opposite ends of a bridge 8 are secured to prevent the device from fallin g downwardly, if it should loosen, by provid ing a nose-rest. To the upper outer portions of the said barrels 7 caps 9 are hinged by means of a cross-rod 10, secured to the upper parts of the caps and passing through adjacently-situated apertured lugs 11, projecting over the said caps from the barrels 7. end of the rod 10 is formed with a crank-handle 12, to which is attached a coil-spring 13, extending rearwardly and secured to the adjacent barrel 7. This spring 13 holds the caps 9 in close engagement with the outer ends of the barrels 7 as said caps are pulled down against the resisting tension of the said spring, and in opening the caps the spring facilitates said operation by partially overcoming the weight and holds the caps when opened on the upper portions of the two barrels, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in a positive manner and until force is applied to close them.

The inner portions of the caps 9 are pro-' vided with supporting-Webs it, which are centrally apertured and have conical lenstubes 15 secured therein, the reduced ends thereof being outermost and in line with openings 16 in the front central portions of said caps. The outer reduced ends of the said tubes'are also secured to the caps adjacent the openings 16 by soldering, and the rear enlarged ends of said tubes extend far enough back to be sufficiently near the eyes which are left free by the openings 6. In the rear enlarged ends of the tubes double-convex lenses 17 are mounted and in the front reduced ends of the tubes double-concave lenses 18 are positioned. The size of the lenses and dimensions of the tubes are made proportionate to the desired result intended to be attained, and in the present instance the foci of the lenses will make objects viewed there- One through appear at a considerable distance from the wearer of the hoodwink and diminish the size of the same proportionately. This will have the effect upon a person entering a room wearing the hoodwink of increasing the length of the room abnormally and make both animate and inanimate objects appear smaller and at a considerable distance. To overcome the delusion or deception, the caps 9 may be raised or opened, thus drawing the tubes outwardly with them and leaving the barrels unobstructed -to permit. the wearer of the hoodwink to exercise normal vision, and for many purposes this arrangement will be exceptionally convenient and beneficial, particularly in the rendition of rituals of secret organizations.

To entirely shut off the view of exterior objects under any condition, covers 19 are hinged over the openings 16 of the caps 9 by means of a cross-rod 20, having bearing in apertured lugs 21 on the said caps and provided with a central finger-loop 22. The covers 19 are rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the rod 20 and are held closed by the tension of a retractile spring 23, attached thereto and to the rod 20.

The function of the spring 23 is to materially increase the friction of the rod 20 by exerting a pull thereon, and thereby prevent it from having free play in its bearings and avoid loose swinging action of the covers 19, and holds the latter positively closed or open in accordance with the desired arrangement.

All the parts of the device are light and Will not produce any inconvenience to the wearer, and the opening and closing of the caps and covers can be rapidly and easily carried on. The normal shape of the parts and the fastening devices are of such a nature that they can be applied to any person, and, furthermore, there is no'direct pressure against the exterior portion of the eye.

It is obviously apparent that changes in the proportion, dimensions, and minor details of construction might be resorted to without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is c 1. A hoodwink having a head-band carrying tubular supports provided with hinged portions, and alined pairs of double-convex and double-concave lenses mounted in said hinged portions and having the optical axes of each pair in a tube coincident.

2. A hoodwink having a head-band carrying forwardly-projecting tubular supports, caps hinged to the outer portions of said supports and having lenses therein, and covers movably attached to the outer portions of said caps.

3. A hoodwink having a head-band carry-' ing forwardly-projecting tubular supports, caps hinged to the outer portions of the supports and having central openings with pairs oflenses therein, covers hinged to the outer portions of the caps, and rods for hinging the caps having springs connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC I-I. PEPPARD. Witnesses:

E. E. ll/IOSIMAN, M. A. STOUT. 

